Smart bets: Basia Bulat

Canadian singer and multi-instrumentalist Basia Bulat told NPR that writing sad content for pleasant sounds is her “favorite trick.” That dynamic is at play on her new album, Good Advice, and producer and musical contributor Jim James (My Morning Jacket) helps usher her along a new pop path with celestial keys. The RMI electric piano, one instrument from Bulat’s ever-growing arsenal, features prominently on her breakup song, “Fool.” It comes from the defunct North Carolina company Rocky Mount Instruments. “It was a popular prog-rock keyboard in the ’70s,” she told NPR, “so it’s kind of fun to get [it] into a completely different context.” Another Carolina connection: Local musician Seth Kauffman of Floating Action plays bass on Good Advice, and he’ll sit in for part of Bulat’s performance atThe Grey Eagle on Saturday, March 26, at 8 p.m. $15/$18. thegreyeagle.com. Photo courtesy of the artist

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